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Personal Problems
By W. A. GOLDBERG, Ph.D., Director, Counselling Service
ins-Lesi err,viit vinnstror-
MAN CF 11 -11E WUIEIC
SoiThey Tell Me---
By LOUIS W. ENFIELD
Youthful, well informed, good natured Isaac Franck, executive
A famous American woman director of the Detroit Jewish Community Council, is saluted by the
traveled in Mexico City and was CHRONICLE as the Man of the Week. Franck was born in the little
very much impressed by the ar- town of Zozov, in the province of Kiev. There were fifty Jewish fami-
been
married
I have
for fiftee n years. W e have
tistry of certain wood carvings. lies living in this village and, for a while they lived in peace and
a home and
three children. My husband is a good provide
She searched about for a shop serenity.
r but he pays little
that excelled in the kind of
attention to our home and seems indifferent to the family wel-
At the age of eight, Franck, had his own half acre of garden
fare. We have violent quarrel s ove r
chairs that struck her fancy
trivialities. We are very
where he grew potatoes, corn, onions, beans, peas and- radishes. This
bitter to each other. He delight s
most and finally gave the crafts-
in makin g nasty, torment-
man an order for a chair to be kept his family eating, for times were- very hard.
ing remarks and I am sorr y to say that I
reply just as nastily.
and they fought each other
There were two gangs in the
carved according to a drawing
Neither of us seems able to give an inch. I think the only solu-
every day except Saturday when both, gangs went to the synagogue.
tion is divorce. Is my case hopeless? MRS. R. L. S.
he made for her.
A favorite sport of the children was a game called "Revolution" in
It took a whole week for the
No, Mrs. R.L.S., your case is not hopeless. I have seen hundreds chair to be finished and at last, which the dethronement of the Czar was the principal point. No child
of cases like yours and I do not share your pessimism at all. Your when she came to inspect it, she ever wanted to take the part- of the Czar.
basic difficulty is that you have lost sight of the goal of your mar- was delighted. The chair was a
. Then came the pogroms.
riage. Your remedy is that you and your husband re-examine your thing of exquisite beauty.
"I can still recall the terror of hiding in cellars and attics," he
goals and try to progress again in that direction.
"Do you like it?" beamed the said. "I remember how horrible it was that six of the villagers whom
If you are willing and able to do this, your marriage can still craftsman, pleased with her ob- I had known personally were killed in the pogroms."
be successful.
vious joy.
Had to Flee
The early days of marriage bring problems of
"I just love it," she gushed.
one sort. The advent of children and increasing age
Things
grew
so
bad
that
finally the family had to flee before the
"How much do you want for it?"
bring others. Each period requires an adjustment to
terror. One dark night, they stole away across the Dniester River and
"Ten pesos," was the reply. A
its special circumstances.
into Bessarabia, in Rumania.
.• y
peso at that time was about a
When two people marry, they set a goal for
"It was one of the coldest nights
dollar.
themselves. Sometimes this goal is cli arty defined.
I have ever experienced," he shud-
"That's fine," said the lady.
Sometimes it is vague. But at all times there must
dered. "The river was frozen. We
be a goal. Sometimes, as in your case, the goal be-
"And do you know what else
walked half way across on the ice
I want? I want you to make
comes so obscured, that it is necessary to take
and paddled the rest of the way
me one dozen more exactly the
stock. In your case, I urgently advise a new in-
in ri canoe. It is still the most
ventory.
same as this one. What will be
vivid picture of my childhood. I
the price of the dozen?"
SYMPTOMS
have only to close my eyes and I
Often a husband complains that his wife does
The old man thought for a
can still see it in all its details."
not keep up her personal appearance, that her fig-
minute. A shade of sadness
Arrived in this country, Franck
ure is deteriorating through neglect or that her Dr. Goldberg
passed over his face as he said,
went to school for two years and
consideration for the family is lessening. Or a wife
"That will be one hundred and
then stopped. From earliest child-
complains that her husband spends too much time away from home, fifty pesos."
hood, he was imbued with th,t idea
that 1w fails to telephone when he will be late. Or his lack of demon-
The lady did some quick men-
of going to Palestine as a chalutz.
strated affection' makes her wonder if he still loves her.
tal arithmetic. The price did
To that end, he went to work as
These are the symptoms. Their variety is endless. What is the not add up. Even if the crafts-
farm hand in preparation. He
basis? Some member of the marriage, perhaps both, has slipped up. man did not give her any reduc-
was also one of the founding
Before marriage, the husband and wife knew only the best side of tion for giving such a large
group of Hashomer Hazaeer which
each other. Each person put on an act, so to speak, to impress the order, his multiplication was still
has become radical left wing Zi-
other. The months or several 'years following the marriage are a out of order. A little irritated,
onist.
period of disillusionment, of facing each other as live human beings she pressed him for an explana-
For a while, he worked in fac-
in action. Now the wife discovers that her husband snores, that he tion.
tories as errand boy, machine
picks his teeth in public. Pehraps he forgets to walk on the outside
'Yes, I know how to multiply,"
hand and shipping clerk. Then he
of the sidewalk or neglects to open the door for her. The husband he said, calmly. "I charge you
decided to go back to school. He
discovers that his wife cannot cook, hates housework, wants to go more money for a large order
attended New York University
out every night when he comes home tired.
than for one chair. Think of the
where he took his degree of
This early period requires many adjustments. The ability to make monotony of having to do the
Bachelor of Science. Then he did
ISAAC FRANCK
the necessary shifts determines the success or failure of marriage. same thing over twelve times in
Most divorces occur at this stage either because the couple cannot or the same exact way. Somebody graduate work at Columbia University, Harvard, and the University
of Michigan.
will not find a common ground. They seem to believe that the cere- has to pay me for that."
mony terminated all necessity for working at the marriage.
Work Shapes Career
He got his price.
Success in marriage requires a goal: a home, children, com-
X X
In
the
meantime,
his
work was shaping him for his ultimate
munity participation, personal achievements. Success is a test of the
The lady was walking down
maturity of the individuals, of living as members of the community, the street with her two children, career. He took a course in the Herzliah Hebrew Academy in the
of assuming responsibility, and of the denial of self-interests, all for Lee, aged 12, and Dolly, aged 6. teacher's semina - zy and while studying there, he taught English in
the ultimate building of the marriage. In marriage, the individual In front of her were strolling the high school department and at the same time was librarian. He
was also business manager of the Hebrew Pedagogical Monthly.
counts for little, the partnership is foremost.
two ensigns glittering in uniform.
Next, he became a Center club worker and Hebrew teacher at the
Dolly,
even
at
such
an
early
age,
Items in The Goal
Jewish Community Center in Port Chester, New York. Eventually, he
has a keen eye for handsome
Married persons who quarrel intensively or who are thoughtless men and she nudged her big sis- became director of clubs and of adult education. From there, he
of each other have evidently lost sight of their goal. Often a listing ter and pointed out the two men. went to Manchester, New Hampshire, where he spent two and a half
years as executive director of the YMHA and YWHA. After
of the items in this goal helps you to get back on the right road.
The sister was too ladylike to that, he came to Detroit as educational director of the Detroit Jewish
Such a list should be written. The very act of writing down an in-
pay any attention. so Dolly Community Center. Since April of 1941, he has been executive director
ventory of your marriage is important.
(Continued on page 13) pursed her lips and let out a of the Jewish Community Council in this city.
Piercing wolf whistled. The two
Franck has very great faith in the future of the council here.
ensigns turned around, looked at
the mother who, they assumed, He is preparing a series of articles for the CHRONICLE setting
forth his views as well as the history and function of the council.
had whistled, and smiled invit-
These articles will appear in this paper shortly.
ingly.
By LEON SAUNDERS
While still in college, romance came his way. The result is now a
The lady grasped the situation
and turned a brick red. She happy home with two lovely children.
"I think my wife loves me," he smiled. "But the children adore
seized her two children by their
me, at least for the time being. They tell me so without even being
hands
and
just
ran.
The title of this novel is taken from the famous poem of
asked."
X X X
Holmes "A Shropshire Lad." It has Canada for its background with
He has quite a sense of humor and is willing to laugh on any
its English, French and Jewish population and its multiple racial and
In the good old days, law
religi-us problems and divisions. The author intended to show what students did not go to school occasion. He has a store of Yiddish and Hebrew songs of a humorous
prejudice and intolerance do to decent, intelligent people. From this and study cases out of text variety at his command which he is willing to sing slightly off key
view point the novel is a forceful challenge to bigotry and all the books. When a young man de- to anyone who will listen.
From childhood on, Franck has spoken Yiddish, Hebrew, and Rus-
dark forces, and while the story is often repetitious, some scenes cided he wanted to go into the
legal profession, he would go sian. While in Bessarabia, he picked up Fiench and German. In this
and episodes are truly moving.
Two themes run side by side in this story. One is an indictment to an established lawyer and country, he learned Latin, Greek and English. Of the latter three, he
of the racial and religious status in the Western democracies. The "read law" with him for a while claims he knows English best.
other is a love story which determines that true love triumphs over until the lawyer decided he was
In connection with his council work, Franck is on the executive
proficient enough to go out on board of the National Community Relations Advisory Council which
adversity.
The author is aware that the subject represents another "Abie's his own hook.
he helped to organize. He is also on several of the committees of this
Irish Rose," and to show her awareness, she has the heroine call the
An old-timer around here tells council. He is a teacher at Wayne University, his courses consisting
situation "a drawing room Abie's Irish Rose." But to compare the of the time he had such a stu- principally of political and social theory.
latter with Miss Graham's work would be like putting a story by dent in his office. The student
He is on the Board of Education of United Hebrew Schools and
Harold Bell Wright and Theodore Dreiser on the same level.
would get out the volume of also on the music committee of the Jewish Center. He is also on two
The pattern is not complicated. A youngish Jewish lawyer and Blackstone and read nage after sub-committees of the City of Detroit's Interracial Committee. His
an intelligent, decent and cultured member of a prominent gentile nage. When he got through interest in philosophy dates back to his undergraduate days when he
family in the Province of Quebec meet and like one another. The with the day's reading, he would took honors in the subject of Philosophy and won a prize for the
liking, being fanned by fierce objections on the part of the girl's mark his page with a bookmark best undergraduate work in this subject.
fannly, turns into love.
and then put the volume away.
fact, the poor girl has to struggle and fight two barriers,
Three Deep Interests
But the old-timer felt that the
the •at;togonism of her parents and the justifiable reluctance of a student was not studying dili-
His
two
hobbies
are
study and his family. He has, he explained,
decent lover, a sensitive, high strung Jew who knows what their gently enough. So every evening
love will lead to. And, as a matter of fact, the author has not shown after the young: man had gone three deep interests. First, in the practical affairs of the world. he
or Pictured any objection which could not be justified. It is fear, home he would take out the wants to continue being a social engineer, working with community
fear 'bv all those who love the lovers. There is throughout, the fear bookmark and set it back twenty forces to make better communities to live in. Second, in the realm of
the intellect, he wants to explore the possibilities of a synthesis in the
of the girl's parents that their daughter is about to place herself rages or so.
social sciences similar to the synthesis in the physical sciences. He can
outside of their world. Then there is the fear of the young man's
When this had been going on
parents. His mother tells him, "I am afraid that on some occasion for a month, the old-timer asked explain this to anyone who cares to find out more. Third, he is inter-
ested as a Jew in doing his share to build security for Jews wherever
when she is very angry, she will turn on you and curse you for being
the fledgling how he liked read- they live.
a Jew." But Marc is in love with Erica. The desire to win her
ing
Blackstone.
struggles with the fear of hurting her. Erica has heard of the
As an ardent Zionist, he wants Palestine built up as a Jewish
"I guess I like it pretty well."
prejudices. She has never felt them herself. however. and in her was the somewhat dubious reply commonwealth.
soul, the sense of justice and the desire to keep the happiness she "But tell me, sir. when you first
Questioned a little more about the Council of which he is director,
has -found revolt against all objections, She fears only one thing. started to read law, didn't yon he waxed philosophical.
Erica is more worried about Marc believing in her sincerity and her find that Blackstone repeated
"I have a deep faith in democratically organized communities." he
fairness, than about the antagonism of her father, who is something himself an awful lot?"
said. "I feel that the Community Council movement is the spearhead
of a M. Barret of Nimpole Street.
•n the democratization of Jewish communities in which all elements
All the arguments broukht out in this novel by the author
and all points of view are represented and fully heard, with majority
SILBERSTEIN
COMES
HOME
against such a marriage are sensible and rational and indicate that
decisions governing."
Sgt. Abe J. Silberstein. for-
Miss Graham is thoroughly familiar with racial and religious condi-
He wears a formidable moustache, conservative clothes, and has
tions in Canada. She does not mince words. She bares all the un- merly with the 9th Air Force. 1 mounting fear of growing fat. He is interested in art and poetry
pleasant and hideous realities. These situations should convince was recently discharged after nd has written and lectured on both.
anybody that as long as this world of ours is what it is, these two serving years, 2 years of
With the enthusiasm and ability of Isaac Franck in the capacity
fine] decent and loving young people should not. marry. But Miss which were overseas in England
Guethalyn Graham did not wish to write a thesis. She is also the France. Belgium and Germany. f executive director and with the moving forces both of the men be-
author of a novel about two lovers, and in a love story, love must Upon his return, Me. Silberstein ind it and the inevitable march of all Jewish communities hehind
triumph. And while we watch the lovers finally throwing themselves has resumed the ereetiea of law he (Immunity council movement. the Detroit Community Council may
well look forward to becoming the greatest single factor in the for-
into a clinch and sympathize with them with our hearts, we shake
our heads and mutter, "You poor kids. You think your troubles are with an office in the Barium ward march of the Jewish People of this city. And its success will
be due in no small way to the work of Isaac Franck:
Tower.
over, This is only the beginning."
MARIO WE GOALS
Book Review
EARTH AND HIGH HEAVEN
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